We write to you again to present important information regarding the inadvisability of relocating the Newnham campus of the University of Tasmania (UTas), a project named by UTas as the Inveresk Precinct Redevelopment (IPR) as part of its Northern Tasmanian Transformation Program (NTP). The IPR is a major component of the Commonwealth Government’s Launceston City Deal (LCD), significantly funded by the Commonwealth Government, Tasmanian Government, and the ratepayers of the City of Launceston Council.
Northern Tasmanian Networks Partners & Associates opposes the relocation of the University of Tasmania Campus from Newnham to the Inveresk and Willis Street floodplains, which will be subjected to increasing threat from climate change affecting sea level rises in the Tamar/Esk estuary, and further threatened by predicted seismic activity that could cause the collapse/damage to the levee system. We are also concerned that this new UTas infrastructure and also existing infrastructure such as the flood levees that give some protection but mainly give time to effect orderly evacuation, and bridges crossing the North Esk River, may be damaged or compromised by untimely seismic events, and accordingly refer Councillors to the many reports it has previously commissioned that warn of inevitable seismic activity.
It is also with a note of irony, that finally past rumours of TAFE retreating from the CBD to its campus at Alanvale has now greeted readership of The Examiner newspaper on 15 October 2019 with the headline TAFE SHIFT Launceston CBD campus to close, relocate to Alanvale site. The AEU and the Editor of The Examiner may well ask “If the university is spending all this money to move into town, then why is TasTAFE doing the opposite” and “It seems bizarre that at a time when the University of Tasmania is planning its move closer to Launceston’s CBD, TasTAFE is plotting to escape it”.
Councillors, you may well mimic what those in the community ask “How will the move tie in with UTAS’ plans? .....
Re: DA0320/2020 7 Willis Street Launceston; Educational and Occasional Care – Construction of educational building (Science, Health and Research) incorporating clinical rooms, exercise physiology facilities, consultation rooms, research and teaching laboratories, simulation labs, teaching and shared work spaces, staff facilities and amenities, café, end of trip facilities and associated landscaping. Development of car parking to service the Willis Street building and general university population together with passive recreation areas and access pathways through campus. Demolition works as follows : 80 Cimitiere Street – the previous National Automobile Museum of Tasmania including associated infrastructure including garden beds, appendices, portal roof and walkway; 78 Cimitiere Street – Demolition of three existing buildings and associated infrastructure formerly occupied by Crystal Cleaning; Removal existing parking infrastructure including lighting, fences and shipping container; and the removal of eight trees on site from the Boland We refer to the public notice dated 12 September 2020.
Our Group is determined to keep the City of Launceston Councillors reminded of the folly of its support of the Utas campus relocation.
Winston Churchill had a great saying “When you are walking through hell it is best that you keep walking” , and so we will continue, with the recollection of that great statesman resounding in our ears, our Group is making this representation consistent with our earlier representations and submissions that have strenuously opposed the development of a relocated campus of the University of Tasmania to the Inveresk and Willis Street flood plains, which will be subjected to increasing threat from climate change affecting sea level rises in the Tamar/Esk estuary, and further threatened by predicted seismic activity that would cause collapse of/ damage to the flood levee system.
Click here to read the entire representation
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